Accelerating the future: towards Intelligent and sustainable healthcare
This week we have published the third and fourth predictions from our Accelerating the future: Life Sciences and Healthcare predictions 2030 report. While the first two predictions focused on the healthcare consumer and the consumer health industry, this second pair focus on developing more accessible, equitable, high quality, cost-effective and sustainable healthcare systems. Specifically, our third prediction assesses how the AI-enabled digitalisation of hospitals and other providers might help deliver the ambition for 5P (predictive, proactive, personalised, participatory and precise) healthcare; and our fourth prediction examines the healthcare system’s significant role in addressing the climate crisis. Our blog this week highlights the key insights in these two predictions: Intelligent Healthcare and the democratisation of health data; and Climate resilience and sustainable healthcare systems.
Digital and technological advancements help to deliver 5P healthcare
By 2030, AI technologies will be seamlessly integrated into the fabric of healthcare technologies, from diagnostics and treatment decisions to administrative tasks like scheduling and resource allocation (see Figure 1). Groups of providers share automated back office functions such as HR and finance and technology-enabled ancillary functions like laboratories and pharmacies. Smart hospital, focus mostly on specialise and emergency care and operate or share AI-enabled digital command centres that automate activities such as admissions and discharge, workforce recruitment and scheduling.
Figure 1. By 2030, disruptive technologies have revolutionised the delivery of healthcare, empowering the workforce and transforming patient care
Healthcare systems have shifted more resources to prevention using integrated care budgets that prioritise population health management and public-private collaborations that bridge investment gaps and promote prevention. Moreover, health systems leverage connected care, digital-first access and triaging, real-time monitoring, to identify population health risks and intervene early to mitigate these risks. This has reduced the demand for hospital care by shifting the focus to more cost-effective home care, supported by contact centres, always-on biosensors/wearables, and the collection and integration into electronic health records (EHRs) of biometric data, patient reported outcomes and other relevant health data.
Health data is democratised, digitised, secure and readily available to all healthcare providers. Data science, cloud technologies and distributed ledgers have improved interoperability, the cyber security and resilience, and quality and completeness of health data. Fast healthcare interoperability resource (FHIR)standards, widespread 5G connectivity, cloud and edge computing have helped support the scale, speed, capacity and capability of a data-driven healthcare ecosystem. Moreover, ethical AI frameworks alongside robust governance and audit processes ensure the compliance of healthcare organisations with the financial, safety and quality regulations, including the use of AI-enabled medical devices and chatbots.
How can GenAI accelerate this future?
The ability of GenAI-to analyse complex and unstructured verbal and written information can help augment HCP diagnoses and decision making and streamline healthcare operations by automating tasks like EHR updates, patient flow and administrative tasks, and create predictive models for crisis preparedness. It can also enhance HCPS ability to access the most relevant and up-to-date information, education and training materials. GenAI-powered tools can provide continuous support to staff, automate administrative tasks (including many HR queries) and provide personalised patient support (such as clarifying medical language, help them navigate the healthcare setting, and manage patients’ follow-up and pre- and post-discharge queries).
These developments should free up healthcare professionals' time, to provide hands-on care to patients, increasing job satisfaction and improving productivity. These and the other ‘intelligent healthcare’ shifts discussed above, will accelerate the delivery of 5P healthcare; and help realise the quintuple aim of healthcare: better patient experience and outcomes, lower costs, improved clinician well-being and health equity.
Collaborations support climate resilient and sustainable healthcare systems
In addition to the above challenges that have been addressed by the democratisation of health data and AI-enabled digitalisation of healthcare services and support; healthcare systems have prioritised their commitment to meeting environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets including improved energy, water and waste management, circularity of resources, and health equity.
Healthcare systems have proactively acknowledged the significant contribution they and their suppliers make to climate change. Especially life sciences organisations that provide essential products and services such as medical devices and equipment, IT and digital technologies, and life extending pharmaceutical and next-gen treatments. Indeed, the healthcare and life sciences industries have all set ambitious targets to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve their use of resources to help tackle the climate crisis.
By 2030 healthcare and life sciences organisations, driven by evolving much more stringent regulations and stakeholder expectations, have prioritised sustainability and climate resilience through mature ESG strategies. These strategies are focussed on measuring and reporting science-based targets, achieving net-zero emissions, and delivering climate-resilient healthcare services. Healthcare systems efforts include reducing their direct emissions, using procurement policies to influence supply chain sustainability, and leveraging data-driven insights to improve environmental and social sustainability performance. This commitment to sustainability has strengthened stakeholder trust, attracted and retained talent, and ensure compliance with evolving regulatory requirements.
By 2030, a clear understanding of the full extent and complexity of GHG emissions is evident across all stakeholders who accept that improving resilience and sustainability is everyone’s business (see Figure 2). They have agreed standardised ways of measuring and reporting against the evolving regulatory requirements. A crucial driver in improving compliance was the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) which came into effect in the middle of the 2020s. The evolving regulatory landscape has played a crucial role in promoting cross industry collaboration and proof of progress, and increased transparency and accountability. In 2030, we also see a transition towards site and product based reporting.
Figure 2. The importance of understanding the full extent and complexity of GHG emissions across the healthcare supply chain
Source: Adapted from Deloitte’s Embedding environmental sustainability into pharma’s DNA report#
The healthcare sector has adopted multifaceted approaches to minimise its environmental impact and achieve sustainability goals. New care delivery models, enabled by the digital and technological advancements, such as telehealth and virtual consultations, are reducing reliance on carbon-intensive patient travel, alongside shorter patient stays. Concurrently, the advancements in AI-powered logistics are optimising supply chains and minimising waste, with GHG emission reductions enhanced by a shift towards renewable energy sources, embracing circular economy principles, implementing sustainable procurement practices, and utilising data-driven insights to track and reduce emissions across the entire healthcare ecosystem.
Achieving this prediction, requires overcoming cross-cutting constraints which impact all ten of the predictions in our report. Having a workforce well-versed in climate change and sustainability and motivated to make change is paramount, requiring investments in training and incentives for eco-conscious practices among employees. Simultaneously, innovative funding models, such as green bonds and ESG-linked investments, are crucial to finance the transition to sustainable infrastructure and operations. Compliance with evolving regulations and standardised reporting frameworks, ensure industry-wide progress and comparability. Underpinned by the need to leverage data and digital technologies for effective risk prediction, resource management, and informed decision-making.
How can GenAI accelerate this future?
AI and GenAI has the power to revolutionise healthcare and life sciences by driving significant efficiencies and environmental sustainability benefits. From optimising energy use in facilities and supply chains to enabling personalised treatment and reducing patient travel through telemedicine. Digitally enabled end-to end visibility across providers and their supply chains have helped identify and target energy and waste hotspots and embed circularity principles across the value chain. AI algorithms can play a pivotal role in monitoring and regulating resource consumption and fostering stakeholder trust. AI-powered insights facilitate data-driven decisions for resource allocation, waste reduction, and more efficient clinical trials. However, it's crucial to acknowledge the energy demands of AI itself and the need to mitigate the environmental impact of data processing and storage, through innovations like quantum computing, will be essential for ensuring a truly sustainable and responsible application of AI in healthcare.
Conclusion
By 2030, the healthcare landscape will be powered by AI, fuelled by democratised data, and driven by a deep commitment to sustainability. This patient-centric future promises a world of proactive, personalised care delivered within a resilient and environmentally conscious healthcare ecosystem. Realising this vision requires a multi-pronged approach: empowering the workforce, embracing innovative funding models, ensuring robust governance, and responsibly harnessing the power of AI. The actions taken today to achieve our vision of tomorrow are setting the stage for a healthier planet and healthier people.
